From concept to technology

Our design program aims to provide a technology that exceeds the owner’s expectations and meets the transportation industry’s needs in an efficient and cost effective manner.

During the HSC’s development, emphasis was put on combining technologies that interact together for increased benefits. The most obvious are the optimised design, total reliability, enhanced control over stability and high speed powering in rough weather.

ERI-MARINE (formerly BGV), as design office and project manager, addresses the fast ferry, cargo and military sectors to produce a range of vessels capable of providing exclusive advantages. Worldwide patents have been obtained for these features.

Key attributes

Hydrodynamics

The HSC design consists of a particularly long central displacement hull with a wave-piercing bow, giving very low resistance and minimal pitching motions. In waves this results in low occurrence of hull slamming and whipping shock.

Structure

The structural design of the HSC constitutes an ovoid section shape which guarantees an optimum rigidity, and reduces the fatigue stresses generated by movement through waves.

High speed

The carefully adapted machinery offers an efficient package, capable of delivering the power to weight ratios needed to push speeds up to 60 knots (115 kph). The propulsion system is provided by waterjets with diesel, diesel-electric, dual fuel engines or gas turbines.

Sea-keeping

As the HSC is very slender, control of the roll motion is essential; the aim of the symmetric outriggers is to guarantee transverse stability and to avoid rhythmic rolling setting in while the immersed foils ensure a high level of roll damping under all circumstances. Moreover, the transom flaps with a drive control system minimise rolling in oblique seas while ground effect acts as an additional stabilizing force thanks to the channelling of the air trapped between the hull and wing arms.